tribal confederation · Italy
Hirpini
Origins
The Hirpini lived in the mountains of modern Irpinia, east of Campania. Their name was explained from the Oscan word hirpus, 'wolf', after the animal that guided their ancestors in a 'sacred spring' migration from the Sabine lands. They were one of the peoples of the Samnite League.
Rule and society
Their centres included Maleventum (later Beneventum), Aeclanum, Compsa and Abellinum. They lived from herding and farming in upland valleys, and the sanctuary of the goddess Mefitis in the Ansanto valley, by sulphurous springs, was a major cult site. As part of Samnium they fought Rome in the Samnite Wars.
Decline and legacy
After the Samnite defeat Rome founded Beneventum on Hirpine land in 268 BCE. The Hirpini went over to Hannibal after Cannae and were punished. They joined the Italian revolt in 91 BCE; Sulla took Aeclanum in 89 BCE, after which they submitted and received citizenship.
Few sources survive for this state; details are uncertain.
On the connections map
Open the full map →Connections (3)
- Hirpini was part of Samnite League600 BCE – 268 BCE
- Hirpini was a vassal of Roman Republic268 BCE – 89 BCE
- Hirpini was part of Italia (Social War confederation)91 BCE – 88 BCE
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Hirpini. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/hirpini
- MLA
- “Hirpini.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/hirpini. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Hirpini.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/hirpini.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Hirpini’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/hirpini (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻